Introduction: How to Be Profitable and Moral
Which Ethics? • Overview
Values as End Goals, Principles as Road Maps
The Necessity of Pursuing Values: An Issue of Life and Death • The Necessity of Guiding Principles: Why Acting on the Spur of the Moment is Harmful • Moral Principles are Contextual—But Not Relative
Why Egoism
The Principle of Self-Interest • Human Nature as the Gauge of Value • Why
Happiness Cannot Be the Standard of Value
Rationality as the Primary Virtue
Thinking as the Main Means of Survival—and of Being Moral • The Virtue of Rationality in Business • What Rationality Requires in Thinking and in Action •
The Role of Emotions • Guarding against Irrationality • Applying Rationality
Productiveness
Material and Spiritual Benefits of Productiveness • Productive Work Requires
Thinking and Action • What about Rest and Retirement? • Guarding against
“Unproductiveness” • Applying Productiveness
Honesty
Why Is Honesty Egoistic? • Honesty in Thinking and Action • Guarding against
Dishonesty • Applying Honesty
Justice
Justice in Thinking • Justice in Action • Justice as Contextual • Justice as Trade • Guarding against Injustice • Applying Justice
Independence
Relevance of Independence in Business • Independence in Thinking • Independence in Action • Guarding against Second-handedness • Applying Independence
Integrity
Relevance of Integrity in Business • Integrity in Thinking and Action • When Integrity Fails and How to Guard against Such a Failure • Applying Integrity
Pride
Relevance of Pride in Business • Pride in Thinking and Action • Pride as Contextual • Humility as Anti-Virtue and How to Guard against It • Applying Pride
Common Misconceptions about Egoism
Selfishness (and Greed) • Charity • Conflicts of Interest
The Social Context of Business: Capitalism, Rights, Government, and the Current Reality
Production, Trade and Their Proper Social Context: Capitalism • Individual Rights • Initiation of Physical Force as Evil • The Role of Government • The Current Reality
How to Pursue Rational Self-Interest in a Mixed Economy
Defending Business to Create a More Pro-Business Environment • Running a Business and Resolving Moral Dilemmas Objectively
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index
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